The need for more education around parking legislation was identified as a key action by stakeholders at Sunshine Coast Council’s verge parking workshop on February 12 and since that time, council has developed and delivered several initiatives.

Transport Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the establishment of a working group, development of new educational fact sheets, updated and improved website content and an information pack for real estate agents were the first outcomes to be delivered.

“The Verge Parking Working Group of council officers and councillors was established to review the information, ideas, suggestions, strategies and options discussed at the workshop and to deliver upon the outcomes,” Cr Baberowski said.

The working group has developed a series of new factsheets to help the community better understand requirements when parking in residential areas, considering neighbours and general parking in the Sunshine Coast area.

A dedicated parking information page has been created on council’s website to provide the community with a one-stop shop for information relating to parking.

The webpage includes factsheets,information on residential parking, parking infringements and parking precincts, a parking issues register and references to abandoned vehicles.

The working group has also developed and distributed an information package to Sunshine Coast real estate agents to help educate new property purchasers and tenants on verge parking.

The package included factsheets on parking safely, considering your community and neighbours when parking and planning for your circumstances (e.g. share homes with multiple vehicles).

Mayor Mark Jamieson said improved education was just the first step and the working group would continue to investigate a range of medium and long-term outcomes and report back to the community throughout the process.

“Verge parking is an issue faced by growing regions across the state,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“It is not unique to the Sunshine Coast as we have seen reported recently.

“We have also seen recently that residents of Brisbane City and the Gold Coast are paying on average, five to six time more in fines generally, when compared with Sunshine Coast residents.

“Our council is continuing to investigate ways in which other local governments manage verge parking challenges and examine models and options that might be suitable for the Sunshine Coast.

“This is a complex issue with many points of view and we need to ensure we develop a suitable model that can be applied across the region.”